Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-26


terms "railroad company or "rail-
road corporation" Section D pre-
scribes that the commissioners
appointed under this act shall
make Just and reasonable rules and
regulations rs TO charges at any and all
points for the necessary handling and
delivery of freight; also, rules and
regulations TO prevent unjust discrimi-
nation in transportation of freight and
passengers. 1t prevents giving or pay
ing rebates or bonus and misleading
or deceiving the public in any manner
rs to the real rates charged. Section
6 provides for schedules OF rates for
freight and passenger traffic aud Tor the
publication of the same mt all railway
stations and in certain papers in tho
State. Section Z clothes the commits
sioners with authority, full and ample
power to examine books, papers, and
contracts of all railway companies doing
business in North Carolina. Section 5
fixes the penalties for all violations OF
the rules and regulations by the rail
way companies. Actions lie in any
county in the State where viola
tons have occurred, but all suits must
be in the name of the State and insti-
tuted through the Accomplishment.
Sections 9 and 10 provide for the time
in which said suits must be brought,
and for the disposition of all fines.
sections II and II require the COM
missioners 10 make semi-annual returns
TO the Governor, and to recommend
additional legislation if needed. Sec
tons - and II authorize the Commits
sion to issue subpnnas for the attend
ance of witnesses and fix the penalties
against any railway officer, agent, or
employee who attempts to delay,
hinder, or obstruct the Commission when
engaged in the discharge of itso.duties.
Section II forbids pooling rates. Sec
lions - and Ii provide for the prompt
handling of freights, and the joining of
tracks by one road with the tracks OF
another by proper and safe switches.
THE sHOTwELL MEM )RItL.
1t is now nearly eighteen months
since the death OF Captain Randolph
4. ShotwelI. Though plans were very
soon afterwards set on foot to erect IA
monument to his memory, that has not
vet been done. Quite a sum has been
secured by private contributions and
by bazaar which the ladies held du-
ring the last State Fair. This week,
beginning Thursday, another bazaar
will be held. 1t is hoped to secure a
sufficient fund to assure the erection OF
n suitable monument, and steps will be
taken to put it over his grave by mid
summer. Thousands of people in the
state have the deepest love for Captain
Shotwell's memory.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The State Assembly of this order as
scmbled ut $50 o'clock this eyeningNt
Hriggs's Hall, this city. All OF the
eighty local assemblies, save three or
four. were found to be properly repre-
sented. The number of delegates Is
about seventy-seven. The State As
semblv was called to order by State
Master-Workman John Nichols. Com
mittees were appointed and other steps
taken for the proper establishment OF
the Assembly. After this had been
done Mr.. Nichols read his address. In
auintcrview this afternoon he obligingly
ave your correspondent, as a special
courtesy, a synopsis OF his address. 1t
recjtes sae fact that the local assemblies
OF the State met here August llth last
and duly organized the State Assembly.
Owing to a technicality there was some
delay in grantinga charter, but this was
secured some weeks later. The action
Of the General Assembly Knights of
Labor mt Richmond required another
session Of the State Assembly, and il
was deemed best to hold this here ~ the
time the Legislature was in session.
TIRE ORDERS ENDS AND AIMS.
To quote from the master worknan's
words: lyon are here 10 adopt 4 con
stitution and bylaws, and to take such
other action as may seem best for the
GOOD Of the order and the elevation Of
labor. This is an opportune time, be
cause The Legislature is il session, and
YOU can, without delaying matters two
years. obtain legislation. If you deem
it proper to take any action be prudent.
The knights Of Labor sanon-political
organization-in other words, not poll
teal: vet it is utterly impossible for the
order to accomplish the work for which
twas organized withoutcntering thcpo-
Observation-Disclosures IS, without taking pa
litical action in matters pertaining 10 its
interest Asthe organizationiscomposed
of men of every shade and hue Of
political opinion, when applied to the
great national organizations known as
political parties it would not only be in
consistent but impolitic for the Knights
of Labor as an organization to lend its
powerful aid to any party for the pur-
pose of advancing partisan legislation.
TO do so would bring confusion into
what should be always our unbrokeu
ranks. We must present a solid front
to our Legislature regardless of their
political affiliations. Parties or indl-
yiduals who oppose us must stand
aside.
THE CAUSES o. GRIEVANCE.
"Therc are two causes Of grievance
one is convict labor and its use in con
flict with free labor the other IS the
neglect on the part of the State to take
any potice of organized labor or of the
labor interests by the creation of de
partment to advance and conserve its
interests. D
THE CONVICT QUESTION.
GAS to convict labor, prohibit it, Sc
cure the adoption Of such law that
shoIt-tem convicts shall not 60 to the
ponitcntiary, but shall be retained
within the counties and work the pub
he roads. Let the offenders in petty
cases be thus disposed OF. The long
term prisoners, the old and hardened
criminals, can be kept in the peniten-
tiary. Such step as this will relieve
the overcrowded prison of the younger
and less hardened offenders in
a great dsgree, and will yield a great
return to the taxpayers, thus bringing
relief both to the penitentiary and the